Floodwater barrier

ABSTRACT

An apparatus to protect an aperture of a building and/or a closure means associated with the aperture from floodwater has a barrier housing ( 40 ), which is removably fixable to at least a portion of the periphery of the aperture. The banner housing ( 40 ) includes a channel ( 44 ) into which a barrier member ( 10 ) can slide, forming a seal. A resilient layer ( 61 ) is included between the barrier housing ( 40 ) and the barrier member ( 10 ). The resilient layer ( 61 ) can include one or more splines ( 62 ). A compression means ( 90 ) can be included to urge the housing ( 40 ) and the barrier member ( 10 ) together to form a seal. Further sealing material, in the form of a member of strips ( 70 ), can be included between adjacent barrier members ( 10 ). The strips ( 70 ) are attached to the in-use upper surface of a barrier member ( 10 ), and engage the in-use lower surface of an adjacent barrier member.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention concerns an apparatus for use in preventingflood water reaching an entry point such as a door, window or air brickof a building. The apparatus is particularly adapted to be demountableand to be used with existing doorways and windows.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0002] Floodwaters, particularly from swollen rivers and high tides cancause widespread and costly damage. The damage caused is not only tocrops, roadways and other externally located constructions which becomeat least partially submerged, but also to the interiors of propertiessuch as warehouses or domestic dwellings. The apparent increase in thefrequency of floodwater causing such damage has highlighted the costsinvolved in reparation and that these costs are borne principally byinsurance companies or property owners.

[0003] The problem of the flooding of domestic dwellings has recentlyincreased, due to changes in government policy regarding where newhousing may be located. Previously, it has been the case that due to thenumber of houses which needed to be built, and the amount of landavailable, locations for new houses could be chosen which did not lie inareas known to be prone to flooding, such as areas of a river's floodplain. However, due to the increased drive towards the construction ofnew homes and the lack of suitable space now available, the criteria forassessing whether land is fit for the purposes, of construction havebeen relaxed and an increasing number of buildings are now at risk.

[0004] Furthermore, the increased coverage of formerly agricultural oropen land with concrete has the result that less rainwater is absorbedby the ground. Instead, the water flows rapidly over the concrete intothe sewerage system and then into already swollen streams and rivers.The streams and rivers therefore reach a higher water level, morerapidly than was previously the case, placing buildings, which wereformerly safe from flooding, at risk.

[0005] A number of methods are known, which reduce or prevent from floodwater from entering into a dwelling. The most common of these methods isto stack sand bags against the particular entry point which is at risk.This can however be a difficult and arduous task and is not at allsuitable for those who are infirm or who have difficulty in lifting andmanoeuvring the sand bags into position. Furthermore, even where a sandbag barrier has been constructed, it is normally not water-tight, butallows water to seep either through the main body of the sand bag, orbetween neighbouring sand bags. Moreover, once the flood water haspassed, the user is then left with the problem where to store the sandbags and also with the problem of how to prevent the material from whichthe bag itself is formed from rotting. The latter problem isparticularly acute where sacking is used to form a bag.

[0006] An alternative solution is to provide a housing around a portionof the periphery of an aperture. Housing known in the art often has aU-shaped channel into which panels are slotted, panels co-operating toform a barrier. Sealing material, often formed of strips of rubber isprovided on either or both of the panel or the channel so that awater-tight seal is produced. The rubber strips need therefore to engageclosely with another part of the barrier in order to produce a goodseal. Due to the close engagement of the act of pushing a barrier into aU-shaped channel can be difficult and also cause damage to the sealingmaterial due to friction.

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to seek to alleviate theabove disadvantages and to provide an apparatus which provides aremovable barrier to prevent flood water entering a building.

[0008] It is a further object of the invention to reduce the need toemploy sand bags or the number of sand bags required to prevent waterfrom entering through an aperture of a building.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] According to the invention, there is provided an apparatus toprotect the aperture of a building and/or the usual closure meansassociated with the aperture, for example a door or a window, theapparatus acting to prevent or substantially hinder water frompenetrating said aperture, the apparatus comprising:

[0010] a barrier housing removeably fixable to at least a portion of theperiphery of the aperture; and

[0011] a barrier member sealingly engageable with the housing to providea water-tight seal,

[0012] a compression means to urge the barrier member into sealingengagement with the barrier housing,

[0013] whereby, when it is anticipated that flood waters will rise highenough to penetrate an aperture of a building, the housing is fixed intoposition around a portion of the periphery of the aperture, the barriermember sealingly engages and co-operates with the housing to form abarrier to prevent floodwater entering the aperture.

[0014] The compression means increases the strength of a seal and canenable a barrier to be rapidly assembled. The compression means alsoobviates the need for the barrier housing to include a U-shaped channelas the compression means can hold the barrier member in the correctsealing position.

[0015] A resilient layer is preferably included between the barrierhousing and the barrier member, the resilient layer improving the watersealing properties of the apparatus. Optionally, the resilient layer ispermanently attached to the barrier housing.

[0016] The barrier member is preferably planar, rectangular in shape inorder to be easily stackable and storable when the apparatus is not inuse. Advantageously, the barer member is hollow and includes one or morestrengthening members to strengthen the panel. A balance betweenstrength and weight is thereby achieved for the panel.

[0017] A sealing means is preferably included between the barrierhousing and the building to prevent ingress of water between the housingand the building. The sealing means is advantageously a strip ofresilient material, such as rubber or closed cell silicone material, thestrip flowing under pressure to conform with the shape of the buildingand/or the barrier housing and thus provide a water-tight seal.

[0018] One or more strips of sealing material, can be provided along thebarrier member, again to increase the water resistant properties of theapparatus.

[0019] The barrier housing advantageously includes a channel into whichthe barrier member can slide, the barrier member thus being easilyengageable and removable with the housing.

[0020] The compression means optionally includes a pawl, rotatablebetween a rest position and a housing-engaging position. Advantageously,rotation of the pawl causes the barrier member and the barrier housingto be urged together. A cam mechanism can be included to provide theforce necessary.

[0021] The or each barrier member can include one or more barriermember-engaging portions to enable a number of barrier members to befitted together to form a barrier of increased size. The barrier canthus be increased in height sequentially, as the height of the floodwater rises. The step-wise assembly of a barrier, has a number ofadvantages. Firstly the problems of transportation and storage of anumber of smaller barrier sections is smaller than is the case when onelarge section is involved. Secondly, where an eventually high floodwater level is expected, but the level is still at a relatively lowlevel, the aperture may continue to be used with the minimum ofdifficulty.

[0022] According to a further aspect of the invention there is provideda method of preventing water from entering an aperture, the methodcomprising the steps of:

[0023] (i) fixing a housing around a portion of the periphery of theaperture;

[0024] (ii) engaging a barrier member with the housing;

[0025] (iii) compressing the barrier member against the housing toproduce a water-tight seal;

[0026] (iv) maintaining the compressive force between the barrier memberand the housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] The invention will now be described with reference to theaccompanying drawings, which show by way of example only two embodimentsof a flood water prevention apparatus. In the drawings:

[0028]FIG. 1a is a sectional view of the side of a first embodiment of apanel;

[0029]FIG. 1b is a front view of the panel of FIG. 1a,

[0030]FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the side of a second embodiment of apanel;

[0031]FIG. 3 illustrates the interaction of two panels according to FIG.1 to construct a barrier;

[0032]FIG. 4 is a section through a first embodiment of a peripheralhousing member;

[0033]FIG. 5 is a section through a second embodiment of a peripheralhousing member;

[0034]FIG. 6 illustrates the side of a panel located within theperipheral housing as shown in FIG. 4;

[0035]FIG. 7 shows a top sealing member in cross-section;

[0036]FIG. 8 is a partial front perspective view of panels assembledtogether;

[0037]FIG. 9 is a further partial rear perspective view of panelsassembled together;

[0038]FIG. 10 is an elevational view of a third embodiment of panel;

[0039]FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the panel shown in FIG. 10;

[0040]FIG. 12 is a top view of the panel shown in FIG. 10 secured withina peripheral housing member;

[0041]FIG. 13 is a sectional view through a third embodiment of aperipheral housing member;

[0042]FIG. 14 is a sectional view of a neoprene moulding seal;

[0043]FIG. 15 illustrates a compression latch; and

[0044]FIG. 16 is a further sectional view through the panel shown inFIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0045] In FIG. 1, a panel 10 comprises a surface 11, which, in use,faces and engages the flood waters and prevents their entry through anaperture of a building. The panel 10 has an upper panel-engaging portion12 and a lower panel-engaging portion 13. The upper and the lowerpanel-engaging portions 12,13 run the length of the panel 10, and in useco-operatively sealingly engage with the corresponding lower and upperportions of further panels 10. The upper panel-engaging portion 12, hastwo flanges 14,15 extending inwardly. The panel 10 is hollow, across-piece 16 providing additional strengthening to the panel.

[0046] The panel 20 of FIG. 2, illustrates a further configuration of alower panel-engaging portion 21. FIG. 3 illustrates two panels 10co-operating to form a water-tight seal. Barriers to prevent floodwaters from entering through an aperture can thus be built up in height,in accordance with the height of the flood water.

[0047]FIG. 4 illustrates a housing 40 to retain the panels 10,20 ofFIGS. 1 and 2. The housing 40 is elongate in form and comprises asupport element 41, having a square cross-section. The housing 40 alsohas a panel retention element 42, also having a substantially squarecross-section, partially open along one of the edges 43, forming achannel 44 to receive a panel. The housing 50 of FIG. 5, also rigged toretain panels, differs from the housing 40 of FIG. 4 in that the panelretention element 51 has a substantially rectangular cross-section andis moreover completely open along one edge to receive the panel.

[0048] As illustrated in FIG. 6, the panel retention element 60 hasinner edges lined with a lining 61. The lining 61 is formed from aresilient material such as rubber or closed cell silicone material. Thelining 61 is bonded to the surface of the retention element 60 by meansof a suitable adhesive. In addition, a number of splines 62 protrudefrom the lining 61, the splines engaging an edge of a panel 63 to form awater-tight seal.

[0049]FIG. 7 illustrates a further elongate sealing member 70. Thecross-section of the sealing member 70 has essentially two portions; ahemispherical portion 71 and a “T”-shaped portion 72, which in useengages a panel 10,20. The stem of “T”, passes between the flanges 14,15of the upper panel-engaging portion 12.

[0050] In use, a housing 40 is fixed to the lower and side peripheraledges of a building aperture such as a door or window. The housing 40comprises a number of holes (not illustrated) through which screws arepassed to fix the housing 40 in position. A resilient layer ispositioned between the housing 40 and the surface to which the housing40 is to be secured, prior to the housing 40 being secured in position.The resilient layer forms thereby a water-proof seal to prevent floodwater penetrating between the housing 40 and the building,

[0051] A first panel 10 is slid down the side channels 44 until thepanel 10 is located within the lower portion of the channel 44 whichruns along the lower peripheral edge of the aperture. The seal formedbetween the panel 10 and the housing 40 prevents the entry of waterbetween the panel 10 and the housing 40. As the water level rises, asecond panel 10 is also slid down the side channels 44 of the housing40. A seal is formed between the two panels 10, when the lowerpanel-engaging portion 13 of the second panel engages the upperpanel-engaging portion 12 of the first panel. Where a sealing member 70of the type shown in FIG. 7 is present, the sealing member 70 providesan additional seal between the two panels to prevent penetration ofwater.

[0052] The barrier can thus be increased in height, where it isanticipated that the flood water levels will continue to rise.

[0053] When the flood waters are receding, the panels can besuccessively removed and eventually, the housing 40 removed from thebuilding. The apparatus can be conveniently stored until required again.

[0054] An alternative embodiment of a barrier which also includesadditional sealing means is shown in FIGS. 8 to 15. The panel 80 isagain essentially rectangular. As the panel 80 is hollow, the sides ofthe panel 80 are blanked off and seam welded to prevent water ingress tothe inner volume of the panel 80. A number of ribs 80A strengthen thepanel 80 to enable the panel 80 to withstand the pressure of thefloodwater. The panel 80 has a curved tongue 81 along the in-use topedge. The tongue 81 engages a corresponding portion 82 on the bottom ofa neighbouring panel. The material from which the tongue 81 is formed,although rigid, possesses a certain amount of resilience. The shape ofthe tongue 81 together with its resilience enables a second panel to befitted easily into position whilst at the same time forming a seal.

[0055] Unlike the housing in the embodiments described above, thehousing 83 does not have a U-shaped channel to receive the panels 80,but provides support to the panels 80 on only two sides. It has beenfound that the panels can be quickly and easily inserted into position.There is also reduction on wear on sealing members, as the frictionalengagement between these sealing members when a panel is slid intoposition, can cause damage to the sealing members.

[0056] The panels 80 are held into position by means of a series ofcompression latches 90. Each compression latch enables the panel to bequickly and easily pulled against a housing 83. In order to achievethis, the compression latch 90 comprises a knob 91 which is rotationallymounted to a first end of a shaft 92. A gasket 93 is located between theknob 91 and the face of the panel 80. A mounting nut 94 and washer 95,together with a latch assembly 96 are mounted in water-tight fashionabout the shaft 92 between the walls of the panel 80. At the second endof the shaft 92 is an offset pawl 97. By operation of the knob 91, thepawl 97 can be moved between a housing engaging and a release position.To assist the engagement the housing 83 includes a number of slots 98 toreceive the pawl 97. To ensure a better seal as the pawl 97 enters theslot 98, the pawl 97 causes the panel 80 to be pulled towards thehousing 83. This can be achieved either by offsetting the slot 98 or thepawl 97. Alternatively, a cam system can cause the force necessary.

[0057] In order to make the seal effective, a number of sealing elementscan also be provided. For example, the panel 80 of FIG. 8 has neopreneblocks 99 both to provide a seal with neighbouring panels and also toprevent entry of water into the panel where the panel is hollow. Wheresuch blocks 99 are present, the tongue 81 does not extend the wholelength of the panel, but is cut away.

[0058] A moulding seal 130 runs the length of the housing 83 andprovides an additional seal between the housing 83 and the panels. Themoulding seal 130 includes flexible resilient projections 131 to improvethe seal produced. A further closed cell, silicone strips 132 seals thegap between the housing and the structure to which it is mounted.

[0059] The panel 160 in FIG. 16 includes a strengthening member 161having a U-shaped section to increase the strength of the panel 160 andto minimise the amount by which the panel 160 bends under pressure fromthe water. The panel 160 also has two sealing strips 162 to furtherimprove the seal formed with the neighbouring panel 163.

[0060] The panels can be made from a number of different materials,which are able to withstand the pressure of water without undergoingsignificant deformation. They can be formed, for example, from metal,wood or a suitable plastics material such as U-PVC. The panel shouldhowever be light enough to be easily lifted and positioned by the user.Aluminium has been found to be particular suitable in this respect.

[0061] The sealing material between the housing and the surface on whichthe housing is mounted is provided by a strip of resilient material. Thematerial can therefore, under the pressure applied by fixing the housingin position, and also of the pressure of the flood water, flow into theshape into the shape of the surface, for example a wall or door sill, togive an improved seal. Where necessary, mastic sealant can also beapplied, the mastic however being less easy to remove from the buildingand apparatus when the apparatus is dismantled from the building.

[0062] The dimensions of the elements of the apparatus will depend onthe nature of the materials used in the construction and also on thesize of the aperture to be protected. For example, where the material ofconstruction is aluminum then (for a panel to cover the aperture of amain doorway) a height of 160 to 190 mm and a thickness of 20 to 30 mmfor the main panel body has been found to be suitable. The height of thepanel-engaging portions 12,13 can be 10 to 40 mm, but 20 to 30 mm hasbeen found to be particularly suitable. The thickness of the walls forsuch an aluminium panel are typically from 1.5 to 5.0 mm in thickness, athickness of from 2 to 3 mm being found to be particularly suitable. Thethickness of the walls of the housing 40 are also from 2.0 to 5.0 mm inthickness, with 2.5 to 3.5 mm being preferred.

[0063] It will of course be understood that the invention is not limitedto the specific details described herein, which are given by way ofexample only, and that various modifications and alterations arepossible within the scope of the invention.

1. An apparatus to protect an aperture of a building and/or a closuremeans associated with the aperture, the apparatus acting to prevent orsubstantially hinder water from penetrating said aperture, the apparatuscomprising: a barrier housing removably fixable to at least a portion ofthe periphery of the aperture; a barrier member sealingly engageablewith the housing to provide a means for deflecting or deterringfloodwater from entering the building through said apertures,characterised in that the apparatus includes a compression means adaptedto urge the barrier member into sealing engagement with the barrierhousing.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a resilient layeris included between the barrier housing and the barrier member biasingone part towards the other so as to provide improved sealing properties.3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the resilient layer ispermanently located within the barrier housing.
 4. An apparatusaccording to claim 2, wherein the resilient layer includes one or moresplines.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the barriermember is planar and rectangular in shape.
 6. An apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the barrier is hollow and includes one or morestrengthening members.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein asealing means is included between the barrier housing and the buildingto prevent ingress of water between the housing and the building.
 8. Anapparatus according to claim 7, wherein the sealing means is a strip ofresilient material, the strip deforming under pressure to conform withthe shape of the building and/or the barrier housing providing awater-tight seal.
 9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one ormore strips of sealing material is provided along either or both of thein-use upper and lower surfaces of the barrier member to increase thewater resistant properties of the apparatus.
 10. An apparatus accordingto claim 9, wherein the barrier member includes a flange to retain theor each strip of sealing material.
 11. An apparatus according to claim1, wherein the compression means includes a pawl rotatable between arest position and a sealing position rotation of the pawl causing thebarrier housing and the barrier member to be urged together.
 12. Anapparatus according to claim 11, wherein a cam mechanism urges thebarrier housing and the barrier member together.
 13. An apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the or each barrier member includes one ormore barrier member-engaging portions to enable a number of barriermembers to be fitted together to form a barrier of increased size.
 14. Amethod of preventing water from entering an aperture of a building, themethod comprising the steps of: (i) fixing a housing around a portion ofthe periphery of the aperture; (ii) engaging a barrier member with thehousing; (iii) compressing the barrier member against the housing toproduce a water-tight seal; (iv) maintaining the compressive forcebetween the barrier member and the housing.